Pipe cutter&#39;s collapsible bench



Mamia & 1193. A. J. PIPE CUTTERS COLLAPSIBLE BENCH Filed Aug. 29, 3.936

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful pipe cutters collapsible bench and has for one of its objects to construct an exceedingly simple and effective knock-down structure that may be easily assembled and also readily disassembled for transportation in a relatively small space.

Another object of the invention is to provide unique means for detachably connecting the bench legs and their associated braces to the bench top.

A further object of the present invention is to so associate the parts of the device that when in use it will be rigid, strong and durable although relatively light in weight, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for supporting some classes of work and tools on the bench.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a. pipe cutters collapsible bench constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamp lock box on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the lock clamps.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a lock rod attached to the bench top.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the brace lock plate on the 'line 'l-'l of Fig. l and a perspective view of the co-acting lock box and the connector for the braces and lock box.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation of the elbow with hooks for supporting a pipe cutter..

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view of the underside of the bench top.

In carrying out my invention as herein em.- bodied l5 represents the bench top having a pair of lock keepers l6 mounted on the underside adjacent both ends thereof and said keepers are in endwise alignment. These keepers have T- shaped slots, Fig. 5, each open only at one end and the keepers at one end of the bench top are preferably reversed relative to those at the other end of said bench top. One of each pair of keepers has a hole ll in its top wall through which a pin 18 projects and this pin is carried by a bar l9 mounted in a recess 20 in the under face of the bench top and of sufficient size to permit the bar to be moved in and out and also accommodate a spring 2| which urges the bar and pin outward. Said spring has one end set in a socket 22 and the other end is telescoped over the inner end of the pin 18 which projects above the bar. Said bar 19 is loosely held in place by a screw 23, the head of which is smaller than the countersunk hole 24, Fig. 6, into which the screw head projects. This arrangement allows the bar to be actuated in one direction by the spring and in the other direction by pressure upon the finger piece 25 on the free end of said bar. The outer end of the pin I8 is beveled to cause said pin to be retracted when a member, to be presently described d is forced into the keeper.

An A-shaped leg pedestal 26 is provided for each end of the bench top to support the latter and each pedestal includes two legs 21 of pipe connected at their upper ends by elbows 28 to a 25 cross bar 29 which is also pipe. The elbows are clamped in place by fastening means 3!], such as bolts and nuts and the pipe elements are held against rotation by set screws 3|. Three of the elbows are identical in construction but one of 30 them. at the end of the bench where the vise is located, has a web 32 from which projects a pair of spaced hooks 33, Figs. 8 and 9 to form a hanger for a pipe cutter.

The legs 27 are braced near their lower ends by a. spreader 34 of pipe having its ends connected to sockets 35 clamped onto the legs. The feet 36 for the legs are also sockets having toes 31 formed thereon.

On the cross bar 29 are clamped the locks 38 v4:0 having heads T-shaped in cross section attached by the fastening means 39 and heldagainst rotation by set screws 40. These locks 38 are spaced the same as the keepers I6 which latter are spaced at least a distance sufficient to permit one of the locks to pass between them. When the locks 38 are properly registered with their keepers l6, said locks may be slipped into said keeper through the open ends and when in place the pin l8 will enter a hole 4| in the head of one of the 0 locks, Fig. 5 to hold the leg pedestal against accidental displacement. By pressing upon the finger piece 25 to move the bar I9 in opposition to the spring the pin l8 will be retracted to release the locks.

The spreader bar 34 has a flanged socket 42 at both ends with a strap 43 rotatably mounted on each between the flanges and to each strap is pivoted a one-eye socket 44. Each socket 44 has one end of a brace element 45, which is a section of pipe, attached thereto and on the opposite end of each brace element 45 is mounted a two-eye socket 46. The brace elements converge toward their upper or outer ends and their sockets 46 are pivoted at 41 to the companion piece or connecter 48. To this connecter is hinged the brace lock keeper 49 having keeper openings 55 and a hole The brace lock keeper is adapted to be placed over the hook shaped lock bolts 52 on the brace lock plate 53 until said lock bolts pass through the openings 59, then the keeper 49 is moved lengthwise until portions of said keeper overlap the tangs of the lock bolts. There are two lock bolt plates, one for each brace structure and they are secured to the under face of the bench top between the ends of the latter and are positioned reverse to each other.

Within a recess 54 in the underneath face of the bench top, above each brace lock plate 53 is a lock bar 55 anchored at one end by a screw 56 with sufficient play to permit the other end of the bar to move in and out. This method of mounting is the same as that described in connection with the lock bar 19. The free end of the lock bar 55 carries a pin 51 which projects through the plate 53 to one side of the lock bolts 52, Fig. 10, and is urged outward by a spring 58, Fig. '7, so as to enter the hole 5! when the latter is moved into registration with the pin. Said lock bar has a finger piece 59 which projects beyond one end of the plate 53 whereby the lock bar 55 may be moved inward against the action of the spring 58 for retracting the pin '51.

To assemble the bench, the top I5 is turned upside down, then the T-shaped lock bolts 38 of the leg pedestal 26 are inserted in the keepers l6 and moved sidewise, relative to the bench top, until the pins l8 enter the holes 4i. Because of the flexible construction of the brace structures they may now be shifted about until the brace lock keepers 49 can be passed over the hook shaped lock bolts 52 which register with the keeper openings 50. Said brace lock keepers 49 are then moved longitudinally until portions thereof overlap the tangs of the hook shaped lock bolts. and the pins 51 enter the holes 5| in the brace lock keepers. The brace structures are now held rigidly in place and the whole assembly is supported in an efficient manner for the purpose for which it is particularly adapted.

To disassemble the bench the brace structures are first disconnected from the bench top by retracting the pins 5'! to allow the brace lock keepers 49 to be disengaged from their lock bolts 52. Next the pins iii are retracted and. the lock bolts 38 withdrawn from their keepers I6. The brace structures are then folded up against their respective leg pedestals and held in place by a' chain 60 which is fixed to one of the fastening means 30 on one of the elbows 28, saidchain being passed around one brace element 45 and fastened by means of a hook 6| on the chain '85 to another chain 62 fixed to the other fastening means 30 on the same elbow.

A bench constructed in the manner herein set forth is strong and durable but may be readily knocked down and easily transported to the cation where it is to be used and then quickly assembled on the job.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful is:-

1. A pipe cutters collapsible bench comprising a bench top, a pair of keepers mounted on the under face of the bench top adjacent each end, each of said keepers having a T-shaped slot open at one end, the keepers at one end of the top being in reverse position to those at the other end, a lock bar mounted in a recess in the underside of the bench top above one of the keepers of each pair, a pin carried by the lock bar and extending above and below said bar, a spring seated in the recess and positioned about the upper end of the pin to urge the lock bar and pin outward, leg pedestals including a cross bar, a pair of lock bolts with T-shaped heads secured to the cross bar of each pedestal for sliding insertion into the keepers, one of said heads having a hole to receive the pin for releasably holding the lock bolts in their keepers, brace structures carried by both leg pedestals, and means to detachably connect said brace structures to the underside of the bench top intermediate the ends of said top.

2. In a device of the kind described, a bench top, a leg pedestal detachably fastened to the underside of said top adjacent each-end thereof, a spreader on each said leg pedestals, brace structures each including two leg members rotatably connected to a spreader, connecting members to which the leg members of the brace structure are pivoted, lock keepers having bolt receiving openings and a hole, said keepers being hinged to the connecting members, hook shaped lock bolts secured to the underside of the bench top for registration with the openings in the keepers when the latter are placed over the bolts, said keepers being movable longitudinally to engage portions thereof over the hook shaped lock bolts, lock bars in recesses above the lock bolts, pins on lock bars for projection into the holes in keepers, and springs to urge the lock bars and their pins outward.

3. In combination, a bench top, leg pedestals to support said top, each pedestal comprising leg members, elbows on the upper ends of said leg members, a cross bar having its ends mounted in the elbows, fastening means to clamp the elbows in place, sockets having toes mounted on the lower ends of the leg members, other sockets clamped on the leg members adjacent their lower ends, a spreader secured to the last named sockets and flanged sockets attached to the spreader, straps rotatably mounted on said flanged sockets, single eyed sockets pivoted to the straps, brace members having their lower ends in the one eyed sockets, two eyed sockets mounted on the upper ends of the leg members, a connector to which the two eyed sockets are pivoted, a keeper hinged on the connector, means to detachably connect the leg pedestals to the bench top, and means on the underside of said bench top whereby the keepers are detachably fastened to the underside of said bench top.

, ARTHUR J. SHILEY. 

